An ode to red and black

As you can see in my new profile picture, I've been enjoying a new pair of vibrant red Listen Flavor boots. 

I wanted them since my arrival in Nagoya last September, but couldn't bring myself to pay about 10,000 yen for them. Finally, Skunk (one of my favourite stores in Oosu, I'll have to write about them one day) had them on sale for about $30. 

I thought these boots were perfect for me and my style, because they have everything I love... Red, black, and leopard print!

Whether it's in lolita or casual style, red is my favourite colour to wear. Whether it's tied in with lipstick, a beret or shoes, it makes me pause on a photo or a magazine page. It contrasts so nicely with black, white or leopard print, it's a match made in heaven. 

And so, I've been saving photos of my favourite red and black outfits from Tumblr, to create a sort-of inspiration post. Read more under the jump-cut!

(Overdue) Outfit Post~!

Hey Darlings!

I can't believe that my study abroad ends in one week. It feels like it can't really end... I can't wrap my mind around going home! But I still have to scrub my apartment floor to ceiling for inspection this weekend. I wanted a break from that nonsense, so started to go through my photos again.

Then I realised, even though this is sort of my "Lolita" blog, I never post my outfits. The truth is, I'm really shy and hate taking photos. I never post to communities and try to avoid the spotlight... ^^;

But, I just got some Purikura scans from my friend, so what the heck? Here are a few of my favourite outfits from the past year, some from really fun outings. 

This was around the start of Spring semester, and Nagoya was still freezing! My friend and I braved the frigid wind to twin in Angelic Pretty's Honey Cake series. This was the day we visited the "Kuma Cafe", a cafe all about Teddy Bears.

This is from around last Christmas. NUFS organised a field trip to the Linear Motor Museum, a museum all about trains. We got to explore old rail cars, play with displays, and eat eki bento.

Naturally, I wore Metamorphose's "Romantica Train" JSK. Unfortunately I forgot my camera on that day, so these were taken with my cellphone!

These are some of my favourites. My friend and I dressed in old-school/aristocratic outfits, sticking to a black and white colour scheme. I wore an older Metamorphose Jsk I found at a second-hand shoppe.

I also wore this butterfly, cross and chain ring by Ozz-On. It's so ridiculous and lovely, but it's kind of impractical, so I rarely get to show it off. 

About our hair... My friend loves Miku from Vocaloid, and I love Luka... we were both excited for an upcoming cosplay event, so decided to try out our Vocaloid wigs!

(Ironically, our plan was to visit a Butler Cafe called "Imperial Rose" that day, but it was closed for a different cosplay event.) 

... I'm not sure when this was. But I'm glad I didn't get a full outfit shot, I have no idea WHY I was wearing so many bright colours! xD

I don't think this is the most flattering picture, but I love this new Putumayo JSK. I just got it at the shop, and wore it to class one day...

(Can you tell, I really love those red Metamorphose shoes.)

And my most recent outing was yesterday! My friend and I were choco-twins, both wearing the Chocolate Chess bustier JSK in mint. 

As you can see we wear lolita together often, but yesterday people wouldn't stop ogling us! People even kept walking into things! xD Lots of people took their picture with us too, which I don't mind... but it's the weirdos video taping us on their phones as they walk by that bother me. :"| You really have to watch out. 

And afterwards, we got matching chocolate pancakes at one of our favourite cafes.

And well, now you can't say I never post outfits. xD Maybe I'll do this once a year or something. 

Hope you are all doing well! And don't forget, there are three days left on the Taiyaki Maker give away! Good look to everyone who has entered, and if you haven't, there's still time! 

Now, back to cleaning for me... I don't really like Cinderella, but I feel her pain now.

Till next time,

Cherie

Golden Week in Tokyo

... or should I say, Golden four days in Tokyo. My university had class until Wednesday afternoon, with its fair share of quizzes and essays. By the time I boarded my 4 PM highway bus, I was ready for a vacation... and the semester has barely kicked off!

Months ago, my friend from Hawaii (Sam) said she wanted to visit Tokyo for Golden Week. I started planning accordingly, reserving early bus tickets and making spare space in my closet. Since she was coming with three other friends, all of us shared a rental house two train stops away from Harajuku. 

We had a blast, and I got to see a lot more of Tokyo on this trip!

This is a huge post with a lot of photos, so read on under the jump-cut!

October Wrap-Up

Can you hit the jackpot just for buying a soft drink at home?

When you use Suntory soft drink vending machines, you can be a big winner. When you buy a drink the numbers start rolling, and if you hit three sevens, you get the jackpot: a free drink.

I have yet to win, but the landlord always comes up behind me and cheers, "当たって！ナナ、ナナ、ナナ！" (Hit it! Seven seven seven!).

Why bring this up? I've had a tough past week.While taking my daily run, I tripped over something in the dark and deeply scraped my legs. Since I also sprained my ankle running last month, I've come to the conclusion that I need to stop running outdoors and try out the treadmills at the gym. Luckily, NUFS has its own gym open for students.

On top of that, I finally caught the cold that was going around. The only good thing was the vocabulary I learned to describe my symptoms and read medicine bottles. (Guess what the word for runny nose is? 鼻水 [hanamizu], literally nose water.)

My point is in spite of this, my friends and family cheer me on anyway, no matter what it is I'm going through. They inspire me and help me make it through.

October ended with NUFS' University Festival, and naturally, Halloween. 

University Festivals are unique to Japan... or at least, my college in Hawaii never had anything like this. Different classes, clubs and sports teams set up their own booths to raise money for activities. It's a really big deal, and not only students attend, but everyone in the town.

More under the cut!

A Lolita's Day in Nagoya

Well yesterday, I suggested doing a photo dump to share some of the things I've seen in Japan so far. But as it turns out, today's Lolita Meme theme serves that purpose very well.

Day Eleven

... a day of your Lolita life in pictures.

It all started here, at Hongo station on our way to Sakae. 

We had lunch at Sakae station, where I had udon for the first time ever! It was really delicious! My friend recommended that I order wakame udon, if I wasn't very hungry. But I couldn't even finish this big bowl! I wish I could though! 

The order came with pickled vegetables and furikake rice. Furikake rice is one of my favorites from my home in Hawaii, so it was really nice! :)

It was sooo hot out yesterday. I stopped at the Ghibli store to pick up this cute handkerchief.

After lunch, we went to Nagoya Castle.

It was hot.

Really hot.

But at least the inside of the castle had air conditioning. I know they say the Japanese are advanced in their technology, but man... the Feudal Lords were geniuses...

The view from the top!

I got my BTSSB planner stamped. 

We found the Swimmer store at Sakae station! I wanted to look more, but it was pretty crowded. I picked up some Melty Chocolate headphones and Black Cat, Red Ribbon, and Gold Crown earrings.

The staff was super helpful, and helped direct us to the Nova building, where the Lolita shops are on the 5th floor.

I literally ran down the escalator when I saw Angelic Pretty's pink lobby. I have never been in Lolita shop in the four years since I started. It was like walking in a dream. 

The staff at Angelic Pretty were lovely! The shop tenant had peachy pink hair in pig tails, and wore the Chocolate Chess salopette with a cut sew underneath. It was a super cute coordinate for the sticky Nagoya heat we've had.

When I came in, I asked if they had the brown Honey Cake head bow, but they were out. Instead, I picked up a plain ivory side bow and continued browsing. The shop tenant came up to me with a much bigger, more elaborate head bow with ribbons, lace, and pearls, and said, 'I think this one suits you, and the pearls are really cute!' I was so surprised that she took the time to find me a head bow. I actually love pearls, and can't believe I missed that bow on the table!

After, I decided to get a purse too. I couldn't choose between the last Honey Cake shoulder bag and the new Alice in Wonderland story book purse. I asked the shop tenant, and she recommended getting the Honey Cake purse, since it was their last one and it would be really cute with my Honey Cake series. 

(And as it turns out, both the bow and the purse are PERFECT with my Honey Cake Jsk.)

After paying, she gave me a stamp card, and hand-drawn information sheets for upcoming reservations. She packed everything, even my other shopping bags, into one large, convenient Angelic Pretty bag. Then, she carried it out of the store for me, bowing many times and saying "Arigatou gozaimasu".

The Putumayo staff were all so nice! They had about three tenants working, but they were all so friendly. When I chose a parasol I liked, they opened it for me so I could see the design. Then, they cut the tags so I could use it right away, and put them in a sealed Putumayo envelope. I asked for a little bag to hold my old travel umbrella, and they packed it for me!

On the way out, I spotted an adorable beret with bunny ears- berets and bunny ears, two things I'm a sucker for. After admiring it, one of the tenants said I could try it on if I wanted! They took it out of the packaging for me and let me try it on in front of the floor-length mirror. Ugh, it was too cute! It was almost 8,000 yen though, so I think closer to Winter, I'll go back for it. It will be perfect for cold days, and maybe, they'll have a sale by that time. Hehe. 

Things I was disappointed in- Alice and the Pirates and Baby the Stars Shine Bright. At Baby, the shop tenant was nice, but the store itself was pretty bare. I think it's because they just had a big Summer Sale, didn't they? At Alice and the Pirates, it wasn't as bare, but the tenants didn't even say "Welcome". They kept to themselves at the front desk, one tenant with their back to us. To me it felt like they didn't want my business.

Innocent World was the most cramped store, in a corner of the 5th floor. But the goods were amazing. They had some Autumn outerwear out on the racks, and lots of adorable socks. I saw the new Stained Glass print in blue in person, and it's stunning! I really want it for myself. 

Unfortunately time doesn't stand still in Lolita Land, and we had to leave. I felt like I was floating down the stairs and out to the train station.

Of course, that floaty feeling wore off fast, and as soon as I walked in the door of my apartment I wanted to crash.

My haul for the day.

But the best thing I received?

In my mail box, I received my first card from my mom. It was just the thing I needed to wrap up a perfect day.